Montana Snowbike Permitting issues

[JTAB]

I don't know anymore than what was posted on his web site please chime in thanks.

http://www.snowest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=238359&stc=1&d=1413412160

 

[dirtrebel]

As long as it meets the definition of a "snowmobile", not just an "over the snow vehicle" I say we are good. I'm sure all of us agree if they would sell us a snowmobile sticker for a dirtbike we would buy one. For now the lady at the dmv says "we cant register a dirtbike as a snowmobile currently, so you are good with a motorcycle sticker for now." Below is a picture of the current over snow vehicle use map definition of a snowmobile for the Gallatin national forest, (sw montana). An atv with tracks would qualify as an over the snow vehicle but not as a snowmobile ,which is not allowed on our snowmobile trails around here at least. A snowbike falls under the definition of a "snowmobile" so it is good. The trails (at least here on the gallatin) are mostly open to "snowmobiles" and closed to "over snow vehicles." As far as some saying you are not properly registered that is a grey area. The part about originally designed and designed also is a grey area. My snowbike is designed as a snowmobile, I guess the question becomes designed by who? And was it originally designed that way or designed after initial production. Currently it does not say "originally." A while back I talked to a Gallatin national forest snow ranger, he asked me if I realized I was not contributing to the grooming fund with my vehicle. I told him well I am happy to but they don't offer a sticker but say I am good with a motorcycle sticker so I am not breaking any laws. Plus from what I hear the gasoline tax is where the grooming funds come from anyway. I sure hope this does not become a big deal. obviously this is just another ploy by the libs to attack snowmobiling in genereal by use of any avenue. We better nip this in the bud! To me it seems the rational thinking would be to create a sticker and be done with it, any attempt to "outlaw" snowbikes is just pure ignorance!
DR

here is a link to the fullsize map with the definitions on it. If you look to the right under purpose and contents of this map it makes it clear that snowmobiles and over snow vehicles are very different things. As long as a snowbike falls under the definition of a snowmobile we should be in the clear. And I should add I have been checked for registration 3 times and every time they have said I was good with an offroad motorcycle sticker.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5338988.pdf

 

[Rush44]

I ran into a FS Law Enforcement officer last year. He was checking registration stickers and I had my Montana Off Road motorcycle sticker on the forks of my bike. He spent about 10 seconds saying "Yep, that's all you need at the moment" and then spent about 10 minutes asking me how much fun the bike was.

Obviously not much of a concern around here. I know in some states you can register the bike as dirt and register the kit for snow separately. I think that because the kit has a ski and track it is recognized as a snowmobile but the DMV just hasn't caught up yet.

 

[Hawkster]

The majority of those that enforce the law participate in these recreational sports , it's usually the ones above that have the say and would rather see all motorized vehicles banded .

We had a similar topic last year and this situation isn't just from the outside , it's within .

Where are the manufactures when it comes to these discussions ? Even the dealers are few and far between when it comes to participating .

 

[swedenturbo]

Here in Sweden we have a big debate whether snow bikes are legal or not.
No agencies or law infocements seems able to give us some relevant answers.

Snowbiking is fairly new sport and few know anything about it.
The Swedish wehicle Agency only looks according to the vehicle Roadworthiness registration certificate. Snowbike are only legal when certificate shows its a snowmobile
Street legal bikes are not allowed

However, we see many track based street legal ATV's out on the trails.
No one seems to question these vehicles?

 

[Uncle si]

In Washington I registered the kit -not the bike- as a snowmobile. It helps to go the the right licensing agency.

 

[honkuscracker]

Anybody from oregon want to chime in?
Thanks!

 

[Spike89]

Ok, so where would I be able to get an off road bike permit for Montana when I go their?

 

[dirtrebel]

Ok, so where would I be able to get an off road bike permit for Montana when I go their?

You can get an over the counter non resident snowmobile sticker for like 20 bucks. Good for one season, u just fill out a little form. they could care less what vehicle is listed. Some stores near sledding areas sell them and maybe online. I don't think residents can buy them.

 

[SteepNdeep450]

Ok, so where would I be able to get an off road bike permit for Montana when I go their?

When I was a non resident I just went to Sportsman's Warehouse and they set me up with one. I wanna say they did ask for my vin, can't remember for sure. I think it was more for the reason they need something associated to that specific tag number I'm guessing, I think it was only 10 bucks when I bought it a few years ago if I recall right.

 

[Uncle si]

Anybody from oregon want to chime in?
Thanks!

My point is that it may simplify things to not involve the motorcycle in the registration. The OP mentioned an issue with dual registration.

 

[41racing]

I just checked into getting my snow bike licensed here in mn a couple weeks ago. Here I just register is as a snowmobile. The lady at dvs even called into the dnr and made sure everything was going to work. So if I'm licensed as a snowmobile here I'd think when I come to Montana I'd just buy out of state snowmobile permit. Who would have thought mn would allow something that Montana don't.

 

[Motogeek33]

When I registered my bike two years ago here in Idaho, it took a little time to explain to the ladies at the DMV what it was, and they had to go into a side office and ask someone else some questions, but in the end they registered my bike as an off-road bike, a street-legal bike and a snowmobile. My bike's VIN is on all three registrations. I just got the renewal in the mail last week and as far as the state of Idaho is concerned, it's a Yamaha snowmobile.

It's surprising that other states would be sticky on this, since it will only increase their revenue if they just allow the bikes to be registered as sleds.

I grew up in Montana, and it doesn't surprise me that they're a little weird about it. I always felt like the people making the rules in that state were quite anti motorized recreation. I always felt like an outlaw there. "When in doubt, lock 'em out!"

 

[mnsnowhawk]

In MN my bike is plated with an off road trail sticker and then I registered the Timbersled kit with the serial number on the kit. Easy in MN.

 

[JTAB]

Thanks for the help with this I think we will be ok as long as they will sell us out of staters permits. I am a resident of SD and now we have a License for the Snowbikes and previously had to by a Permit which was good for only a few days. They smarted up and changed the laws and all is good hopefully Montana will follow SD's footsteps.

 

[dirtrebel]

Thanks for the help with this I think we will be ok as long as they will sell us out of staters permits. I am a resident of SD and now we have a License for the Snowbikes and previously had to by a Permit which was good for only a few days. They smarted up and changed the laws and all is good hopefully Montana will follow SD's footsteps.

Hopefully this will remain true for the 2014-2015 winter and beyond for you out of state guys. For us locals I sure hope this is a non issue going forward, with winter imminent we will soon know if there is an issue.

In Washington I registered the kit -not the bike- as a snowmobile. It helps to go the the right licensing agency.

Unfortunately in MT you cannot register a vehicle without a title or certificate of origin. There are cases where you can do "home built" but that is just a pain! This is something to consider though, good idea. Hopefully if there is a problem going forward Timbersled will help us out!

When I registered my bike two years ago here in Idaho, it took a little time to explain to the ladies at the DMV what it was, and they had to go into a side office and ask someone else some questions, but in the end they registered my bike as an off-road bike, a street-legal bike and a snowmobile. My bike's VIN is on all three registrations. I just got the renewal in the mail last week and as far as the state of Idaho is concerned, it's a Yamaha snowmobile.

It's surprising that other states would be sticky on this, since it will only increase their revenue if they just allow the bikes to be registered as sleds.

I grew up in Montana, and it doesn't surprise me that they're a little weird about it. I always felt like the people making the rules in that state were quite anti motorized recreation. I always felt like an outlaw there. "When in doubt, lock 'em out!"

Yes a little weird!

 

[allpowersports]

Here in Sweden we have a big debate whether snow bikes are legal or not.
No agencies or law infocements seems able to give us some relevant answers.

Snowbiking is fairly new sport and few know anything about it.
The Swedish wehicle Agency only looks according to the vehicle Roadworthiness registration certificate. Snowbike are only legal when certificate shows its a snowmobile
Street legal bikes are not allowed

However, we see many track based street legal ATV's out on the trails.
No one seems to question these vehicles?

ATVs with tracks are not legal in Sweden or Norway and the same goes for snowbikes, both is considered to be an over the snow vehicle and not an snowmobile.

 

[Motogeek33]

Montana is weird toward motorized recreation, but it's funny that they'll sell an out-of-state visitor permit to anyone. A few years ago, when I was in a different tax bracket but still trying to enjoy the snow, I got a great deal on an old Arctic Cat that didn't have a title. I was too dumb to realize how hard it is to get a new title after it's lost. I checked the VIN and it wasn't stolen, so that was good. I couldn't get it registered in Idaho, but I could easily get a visitor sticker and just leave at my Dad's house in Montana. I did all the riding I wanted to do as long as I didn't do it closer to home in Idaho.

 

[SteepNdeep450]

I don't understand why MT doesn't just keep it simple, Idaho has now decided how they want to handle it. Register the bike off road as you would anyways then just register the kit as a snowmobile would be and have a snowmobile tag on the kit. They get more money, what's there to complain about there...

 

[Niskibum]

Like Atvs, in Idaho the only reason you need to register as a snowmobile as well as a off road bike is if you want to go on groomed trails, which I never do.

Idaho actually breaks it's own laws on this, since the rules say you can't register one vehicle as more than one type, but they want their money, so they can bend their own rules if there is money to be made.

I say if you want to give me a ticket you have to catch me first. If you don't like it then sell me a groomer ticket for the bike I already paid to register, I'm not paying to do it twice.